8-28-18 The First 15

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The Weekly Overview As children of the Most High God, we have been granted access to unconditional, tangible, and perfect love. All we need we have in relationship with our Father in heaven. He longs to reveal himself to us as a loving, real Father. He longs for us to live in the fullness of restored relationship with him. He longs for us to experience his vast and limitless affections. May we grow in our understanding and experience of God as our good and loving Father this week as we look at what it is to be his child. The Scripture “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” - 1 John 3:2-3 The Worship Experience Artist: Jonathan David and Melissa Helser Song: No Longer Slaves The Devotional To be the child of God is to be ransomed from a nature bent against God and held captive by the bonds of sin and brought into a new life freed from sin and filled with the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” If you are a believer, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. At salvation you were filled with God himself, who longs to produce the incredible fruits of righteousness and freedom instead of the sin that robs you of the abundant life afforded to you by Jesus’ sacrifice. You’ve been given a new bloodline of freedom. The sinful nature of Adam no longer flows through your veins. You’ve been made clean and given a new nature by which you can live freed from enslavement to sin. Paul writes in Romans 6:6-7, “We know that our old self was crucified with [Jesus] in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” In order to live each day experiencing the newfound freedom you’ve been given in Christ, you must spend time allowing God to give you fresh perspective. Freedom was bought for us by the blood of Jesus but is experienced through our willingness to allow God to transform and heal us. Experiencing freedom will come by allowing God to lead you away from your past mistakes and guide you into his perfect and pleasing will. Open your heart to him and make space for him to heal the wounds that drive you to sin. Renew your mind to the new nature you’ve been given in Christ, and in humility depend on him for your freedom every hour of every day. You are the child of God now. This world is no longer your home. That which you see is but a mere shadow of the incredible glory in store for you with your heavenly Father. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” You belong to a new people of God who have the ability and authority to not only live free from sin but also to conquer the terrible acts of our enemy by proclaiming the powerful excellencies of our Father. You have been called out from a life of simply “getting by” into a greater pursuit of seeing God’s kingdom meet the earth and transform hearts and lives for God’s eternal glory. Take time in guided prayer to allow God to give you a fresh perspective of your new bloodline of freedom. Rest in his love and lean on him for guidance and healing. May you experience a greater measure of freedom and victory today as the result of encountering the powerful love and presence of Jesus. The Prayer 1. Meditate on your new bloodline of freedom. Allow Scripture to transform your perspective about who you are in Christ. Allow God’s word to empower you to fight the temptations that have plagued you. “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” Romans 6:6-7 “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 “And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:18 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 2. Ask the Lord to show you a wound in your life that the enemy uses to lead you to sin. What past hurt are you trying to cover with sin? What need wasn’t met? What did someone wrongly tell you? “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 3. Ask the Lord to bring you freedom and healing today. Ask Jesus how he feels about whatever happened to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the path of continual healing and freedom that you might proclaim the excellencies of your Father to a greater measure. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14 Oftentimes we give into temptation because of a past experience we are trying to medicate. Those who struggle with pride are often simply trying to gain affirmation that they’re good enough. Those who struggle with lust are simply trying to be loved. For every habitual sin there is a wound the Lord wants to heal. Take time to continually check your heart for wounds that are keeping you from an abundant life. Don’t medicate wounds with that which will never truly heal you. Instead, allow the Spirit of God to come in and guide you to the path of healing. Your heavenly Father knows every sin you’ve ever dealt with and the reason that you have struggled with it. He longs to guide you into a lifestyle of freedom afforded to you by the sacrifice of Jesus. May you live out the new bloodline of freedom that is yours as the child of the Most High God. Extended Reading: Romans 6 CRAIG DENISON is the author and founder of First15, a daily devotional guiding tens of thousands of believers into a fresh experience with God's presence every day. He writes, speaks, and he and his wife, Rachel lead worship to help believers establish a more tangible, meaningful connection with God.